Disability Rights and Resources

The Power of Hope & Freedom

205-251-2223

December 2013 Newsletter

By

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM
DISABILITY RIGHTS & RESOURCES!

16As 2013 comes to a close, we want to wish you all a wonderful holiday and happy new year! We are so grateful for all those who have contributed to the success of our agency this past year! In this issue: the Jasper Office, CRPD, and winter weather planning!

 

 

 

RENOVATED JASPER OFFICE NOW OPEN!

17Last month marked the official re-opening of Disability Rights & Resources’ renovated, updated, and fully accessible office
building in Walker County! The Jasper office is currently headed by Peer Advocate Vickie Stovall, who has worked with individuals with disabilities for many years. The Jasper office offers a range of services to consumers in Walker county, including locating emergency funds (utilities and housing), providing information on local resources, distributing emergency preparedness kits, referring consumers to places like the Hope Clinic and Capstone for medical needs, and working with the Volunteer Home Modification Coordinator to build ramps, steps, and handrails for consumers in need of home modification. The Jasper office also works closely with the Walker County Community Action Agency, which provides residents with emergency assistance, computer lab training, and employment resources. So far, Vickie has been spreading the word about our Jasper location at places like  Cordova City Hall, Parish City Hall, the Carbon Hill Community Center, and the Sumiton Senior Center.

18In addition, the Jasper office has some great upcoming projects for the new year, including collaborations with VIP (Visually Impaired People, Inc.) and Vocational Rehab’s Vision Counselors to use the Jasper office facilities to provide kitchen training for those who are blind or visually impaired. Also, the Jasper office is looking forward to further collaboration with Disabilities Unlimited (DU) and future involvement in community events.

The Jasper office is open Monday-Friday from 7:30-4:00 and is located at 300 Birmingham Ave, Jasper, AL 35501. For questions about services, please contact Vickie Stovall, Peer Advocate, at (205) 387-0159.

CRPD UPDATE!

19The second hearing on the CRPD Treaty was held Thursday, November 21 and there was a fantastic turnout! The official petition, which you can find here, calling for ratification of the treaty currently has over 67,000 signatures. Furthermore, the newly re-launched disabilitytreaty.org website is equipped with a “citizen action portal” that makes it easy to reach your legislators with phone calls, letters, and emails. For continued updates on the CRPD treaty or for more information, please click here or here.

WINTER WEATHER PLANNING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES!

20Some tips from Judy Roy:
Hurricanes and tornados aren’t the only two severe weather events people with disabilities need to be prepared for.  Winter brings its own challenges for people with disabilities.  What’s your Winter Weather Plan?
•    Dress in layers. Wear loose, lightweight, warm clothing in several layers. Trapped air between the layers acts as an insulator and layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. (Remember, layers can always be taken off.)  Avoid cotton– when it gets wet, it stays wet.
•    Carry two pairs of gloves with you at all times in the likelihood that one pair gets wet. Make sure the gloves are lined for the best protection
•    Head, feet and hands lose heat the quickest. Always wear a hat or cap on your head since half of your body heat could be lost through an uncovered head.
•    Hydration is critical in winter weather. When the body gets dehydrated cold sets in more easily
•    Batteries lose 60% of their charge when the temperature reaches 0 degrees (Flash light, radio, and wheelchair batteries).  Keep batteries warm with covers.
•    If you only have a land line think about ice snapping limbs and lines.  Develop a buddy system – someone that will check on you in a severe weather event

We wish everyone a safe & warm winter!!

***DISABILITY RIGHTS & RESOURCES WILL BE CLOSED  TUESDAY 12/24 – MONDAY 1/1. WE WILL REOPEN FOR BUSINESS THURSDAY, 1/2/2014.***

November 2013 Newsletter

By

GREETINGS FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS & RESOURCES!

As the holiday season approaches, we are incredibly grateful for our wonderful staff and all they’ve accomplished this year! In the November issue, we bid a fond farewell to our beloved Mike Norris, celebrate Gwen Brown’s “Advocate of the Year” nomination, recap the 2013 White Cane Day, and recognize some recent achievements of our consumers. Also, be sure to check out our calendar for upcoming events and meetings!

FAREWELL, MIKE NORRIS!Mike Norris

It is with great fondness that we bid farewell to a longtime staff member at Disability Rights & Resources: the inimitable Mike Norris. Mike has been a vital part of our organization since 1982. November 27–over 30 years later–will be his last day at Disability Rights & Resources, after which he will enjoy the wonderful world of retirement! During his tenure, Mike has served as Regional ILRU Coordinator, Network Administrator of the Disability Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC), coordinated the Peer Mentoring Program, and provided technical assistance and training to Independent Living Centers and State Independent Living Councils. Mike is currently an Independent Living Specialist, developing community resources for homeless consumers and providing computer instruction to low-vision and blind individuals. In preparation for his retirement, Mike has penned some thoughts he’d like to share with all of you:

“As I write down a few reflections about my time here as a staff member at Disability Rights & Resources, I am immediately reminded of how times and techniques have changed since I began working here over 30 years ago. The method I would have used to compose this draft for our existing newsletter back then would have been to put my thoughts onto a audio cassette tape, and ask some very helpful staff person to assist me in getting it all down in print. There has always been a very helpful group of staff members. But now I just use the computer with speech technology to process my own thoughts.

I thank you all for honoring me by letting me serve you for all these years. God has blessed me and shown me total enrichment by putting me in this place in my life. I have seen many successes and positive outcomes for people with disabilities because of the efforts of the caring people within this agency. I believe the best is yet to come.”

A reception will be held in Mike’s honor at Disability Rights & Resources next Friday, November 22, from 2-4pm. Food and refreshments will be provided and all are welcome to attend! Please RSVP to 205-251-2223. See you there!

GWEN BROWN OF ALABASTER OFFICE NOMINATED FOR “ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR”

Gwen Brown (top) at NDEAM Awards Luncheon with Carolyn Agee (left) and Dana Ullrich (right)
Gwen Brown (top) at NDEAM Awards Luncheon with Carolyn Agee (left) and Dana Ullrich (right)

Please join is in congratulating Gwen Brown on her recent “Advocate of the Year”nomination at the 34th National Disability Employment Awareness Month Awards Luncheon, which is presented every year by the Birmingham Area Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The award recognizes “an educator who has demonstrated exceptional devotion to duty toward promoting self-advocacy, employment, and improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.” Gwen was nominated by ADRS staff member Nick Votava: “It has been her experiences with her own children that has inspired Gwen to go the extra mile: organizing parent education seminars, assisting parents at IEP meetings, and advocating on their behalf…Gwen adamantly defends and promotes the best interests of her clients.”

Gwen maintains that being an effective Peer Advocate requires collaboration,  communication, and respect: “In order to help empower others, it is important to remain humble and never stop learning.” She also stresses the importance of focusing on consumers first and educating parents very early on about vocational rehab services and the transition process. Independent Living philosophy is also at the core of Gwen’s approach–“promoting self-advocacy and equipping people with the tools they need to step out of their comfort zones” are essential. Congratulations on all your hard work and accomplishments, Gwen!

CONSUMERS MAKING HEADLINES:
Tyelyn Maddox of Montevallo Middle School Inducted into National Junior Honor Society

Tyelyn Maddox (left) and her mother Kimberly (right) pose for a picture at the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony
Tyelyn Maddox (left) and her mother Kimberly (right) pose for a picture at the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony

Tyelyn Maddox has been working with Disability Rights & Resources Peer Advocate Gwen Brown for some time now, seeking to transition out of one of her resource classes and enter the 8th grade general curriculum. Going against the grain, Tyelyn called her own IEP meeting and continuously advocated for herself and for her education. Recently, Tyelyn’s hard work paid off. On Friday, November 8, she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, an organization that recognizes outstanding middle school students and “honors those who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship.” At her last IEP meeting in October, Tyelyn got the go-ahead to transition out of her resource class, and  since then she has even been asked to help lead a class following a teacher’s absence. Gwen speaks very highly of Tyelyn’s determination and ability to self-advocate, saying, “This is what our youth in school need to see the outcome of advocacy. Tyelyn has truly stepped up. I am just so proud of her hard work.” Congratulations on all your great achievements, Tyelyn!

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KITS STILL AVAILABLE!

Disability Rights & Resources has distributed over 250 disaster preparedness kits since launching the initiative in July–and we still have plenty more to give away! The duffle bags contain first aid kits, pocket radios, potable water and vacuum-sealed foods, life rafts, flashlights, batteries, ponchos, a handbook on planning for emergencies, and other helpful items. If you or your agency are interested in picking up kits, please contact Judy Roy at (205) 815-6142.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

November 19: Peer Support Group Meeting, 10-11am, Disability Rights & Resources — (205) 251-2223 for more info!

November 20: Montgomery Center for Independent Living “Chat and Chew” 11am-1pm, Montgomery

November 22: Retirement Party for Mike Norris, 2-4pm, Disability Rights & Resources–(205) 251-2223 RSVP

November 28-29: CLOSED for Thanksgiving Holiday

*Disability Rights & Resources Technology Lab Open Mon-Fri 8:30-4:00

September 2013 Newsletter

By

Judy Roy, Trisston and Brian Burrows, and Jeh Jeh Pruitt

Greetings from Disability Rights & Resources!
Hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day holiday! Check out the September newsletter to meet our new staff members, get important updates on the WIPA program, learn how to participate in the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV), and see what events we’ve got coming up soon! You can also visit us at our website, Facebook and Twitter.

social security administration logoThe Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program at Disability Rights & Resources is Officially Up and Running!
Earlier this year, funding was reinstated for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, a critical counseling resource that helps SSDI and SSI recipients attain self-sufficiency through employment while also providing them with a working knowledge of their benefits. Disability Rights & Resources is proud to announce that we are one of the select agencies nationwide that has been authorized to provide WIPA services again, effective immediately. For these organizations, the Social Security Administration is funding a cooperative agreement through July 31, 2014, with the possibility of an additional 1-year extension. According to the SSA website, the goal of the WIPA program is to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to make informed choices about work and to support working beneficiaries to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency. Beneficiaries will work with Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs), who will provide in-depth counseling on SSA and federal benefits and the effect of work on those benefits. Disability Rights & Resources’ WIPA program is officially up and running again, with Community Work Incentive Coordinators available to take referrals and answer questions now! For more information or to contact a CWIC, pelase call 1-888-803-0118.

 

alabama coalition against domestic violence logoThe Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV) Revises State Plan to Include Specific Recommendations for Persons with Disabilities
The Alabama Coalition Against Domenstic Violence (ACADV) is currently in the process of updating the 2010 Alabama State Plan Responding to Domestic and Sexual Violence. Several systems statewide–including judicial, health care, education, mental health, and prison systems– have become increasingly involved in responding to violence against women. In order to effectively address violence against women, there must be an understanding of the special characteristics of these crimes; without a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, a victim’s life can inadvertently be placed in danger, and perpetrators are less likely to be held accountable for their actions. The 2010 State Plan included guidance for these statewide systems in regard to responding to domestic and sexual violence. In preparation for updating the State Plan, the ACADV is seeking to add specific recommendations for responding to intimate partner/interpersonal violence involving persons with disabilities.
In particular, the ACADV is looking for responses to the following questions:
1. How does domestic/sexual violence impact persons with disabilities?
2. What current responses are most effective for domestic/sexual violence victims from the disability community?
3. What new responses need to be implemented to better serve domestic/sexual violence victims with disabilities?
4. What do other professions need to know about the effects of domestic/sexual violence on persons with disabilities?
5. What accountability measures would be most effective for responding to batterers who victimize persons with disabilities?
6. What training programs need to be developed to address domestic/sexual violence issues specific to persons with disabilities?
If you would like to provide your input, please address your response to Kathy Wells at kwells@hiwaay.net. You can also contact Kathy at 205-475-5823.

 

photo of autumn patterson, sheila mccamy, andrea harrisDisability Rights & Resources Welcomes Three New Staff Members!
Disability Rights & Resources is pleased to introduce three new members of our Work Incentives Planning and Assitance (WIPA) and Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) programs! Pictured from left to right are Autumn Patterson, Sheila McCamy and Andrea Harris.
Sheila McCamy is a native and lifelong resident of Northeast Alabama and is the busy parent of three boys. She recently received her M.A. in Social Work from the University of Alabama and is currently eligible for licensure with the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. Earlier this year, Sheila completed an internship with the Veteran’s Administration, where she worked with homeless veterans. She will be working with the WIPA program as a Community Work Incentives Coordinator. Welcome aboard, Sheila!
Andrea Harris was born in Mobile as the youngest of five children. She attended UAB, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. After graduating, she served two years as an Americorps member with Sight Savers America, where she worked to educate people across the state on the importance of vision health for children. In her spare time, Andrea loves to sew, work on craft projects and watch the History Channel. We are very excited to have her join the WIPA program as a Community Work Incentives Coordinator!
Rejoining the BOND program as a Work Incentives Counselor is Autumn Patterson, who returned to Disability Rights & Resources in August. Autumn first started working at Disability Rights & Resources in 2006 as part of the WIPA program. She was involved with the grant proposal and planning of the BOND project and served as supervisor until taking a brief departure earlier this year. Autumn currently lives in Cullman with her husband, Chad, and their two young sons, JC and Max. She enjoys crafting and refinishing furniture in her spare time. We are thrilled to have you back, Autumn!

 

photo of kathy lovell from regions bankAn Introduction from Disability Rights & Resources’ Newest Board Member, Kathy Lovell of Regions Bank
“I am very proud to join Disability Rights & Resources’ Board of Directors. I am most impressed with DRR’s outstanding programs and outreach efforts being offered to people with disabilities. It gives me great satisfaction to give back and to make life better for individuals with a disability by providing banking products and services that are accessible. This allows an individual to bank independently and with ease. I look forward to discovering all the ways I can support Disability Rights & Resources!”
Kathy is the Americans with Disabilities Manager at Regions Bank. She lives with her husband of 34 years, their dog and two cats.

 

Mark Your Calendars!
September 6: Birmingham VA Medical Center Mental Health Summit, University Blvd Double Tree, 10-2:30
September 11-15: Empowerment Week, visit http://50yearsforward.com/
September 17: AL DAN Annual Meeting, Lakeshore Foundation, 1:30-4 September 18: MCIL “Chat and Chew,” Montgomery, 11-1
October 6-7: National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Board Meeting to be held in Birmingham, AL
October 19: Alabama Inuagural White Cane Day Walk, Disability Rights & Resources, 9-1

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1418 6th Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203